Jeff Richardson was filled with mixed emotions when he concluded his Cup Match coaching duties at Somerset with a 226-run drubbing of St George’s on home turf.

The 65-year-old former Western Stars and Bermuda batter is passing on the mantle to Janeiro Tucker, the man known across the island as “Mr Cup Match”, for his years of dominance in the Annual Classic.

“It’s kind of bittersweet for me, I love Cup Match and when I look around, it’s quite an emotional time, but I think I’ve done enough,’’ Richardson told The Royal Gazette. “I don’t have the energy to go any longer; I’m done.”

Richardson, whose home is a stone’s throw away from 6 Cricket Lane, is not completely walking away from Somerset.

“I’m not going away entirely,” he said. “I’m looking to fill a role at Somerset Cricket Club like technical director or something like that,’’ he said.

“I’ve been coaching the Somerset under-15s for a while, so I might do some work with them.”

Richardson, who coached Tucker during his playing days, offered to help the Bermuda Under-19 coach in his new role.

“He knows I’m always there for him, we’re going to feed off each other,’’ the outgoing coach said.

“He was one of the best all-round cricketers in the country. We’ve been together for years. I coached him and then he became part of my coaching staff when he retired.

“It’s always been an ongoing relationship and I’m happy to pass on the role to him. Whenever he needs me, I’ll always be there.”

After being handed the reins in 2012, taking over the role from Ricky Hoyte, the grandson of legendary West Indies all-rounder Sir Everton Weekes, Richardson not only won back possession of the most prized trophy in Bermuda sport, but has finished his tenure without tasting defeat.

Winning the cup back at the first time of asking as coach, with Jekon Edness as captain, stands out as one of the occasions the coach will cherish in retirement.

“There’s been a few moments, first of all winning it back in 2012 in my first attempt is a highlight for me,’’ Richardson said.

“My son Alje playing Cup Match as a colt in 2019 was also a proud moment for me, and winning Cup Match this year was just awesome.”

Tucker, Cup Match’s all-time leading scorer with 1,487 runs, and also the holder of the highest individual score of 186, feels his elevation should not upset the applecart.

“To take over is not much of a transition for me, it’s just a matter of making sure I implement the same type of strategies,’’ Tucker said.

“We’ve been working together for so long. He has a philosophy and I have a philosophy, so we put it all together. Now it’s about me using my philosophy, putting it into perspective.

“I’ve been at Somerset since 1992 and I’ve been part of the coaching staff for the last six years.

“When the season ends, we’ll just sit down with the club and put things into perspective of where we want to go with Cup Match.”

Tucker also commented on Kamau Leverock almost surpassing his record score, when the left-hander fell for 153 runs in the Somerset first innings. Leverock did slam the fastest Cup Match hundred, in 76 balls, to eclipse Tucker’s 95-ball century, achieved when he set the highest score at Wellington Oval in 2001.

“I thought he deserved it, he batted really well,” the Cup Match legend said. “At one stage I told him you’re on course to get 200-plus, continue on and just bat. I’m happy if you break it.

“I’ve had this record since 2001 and records are there to be broken, so I would have been happy for him. One day, hopefully, I’ll be alive to see someone score 200 runs in Cup Match. But, hey, you never know.”

Photo gallery